Unfortunately, no casual spectator would question her marks. She performed a clean program and was rightfully first. But I still think her PCs are out of this world.

A lot of casual viewers, and I mean those who only watches figure skating during Olympics, thought Julia is the best skater ever, especially her coin-spitting spin positions (thanks Frank Carroll!). Some also wondered how Mao received such "high" marks for doing nothing impressive to make up for her 3A fall.

A lot of casual viewers, and I mean those who only watches figure skating during Olympics, thought Julia is the best skater ever, especially her coin-spitting spin positions (thanks Frank Carroll!). Some also wondered how Mao received such "high" marks for doing nothing impressive to make up for her 3A fall.

Well, skating clean isn't the only thing that impresses casual viewers. Skaters also have to perform TO the audience as well.

Assuming all the skaters skates clean, I would predict that most casual viewers would prefer Murakami, Brown, and Pang/Tong. Too bad all three of them have no where near the scoring potentials compared to the favorites.

So basically I think NONE of the Sochi performances would boost the popularity of the sport. All of the performers don't have enough tech or can't land them consistently, while the high scorers don't have enough performing ability / star power.

A lot of casual viewers, and I mean those who only watches figure skating during Olympics, thought Julia is the best skater ever, especially her coin-spitting spin positions (thanks Frank Carroll!). Some also wondered how Mao received such "high" marks for doing nothing impressive to make up for her 3A fall.

That's why judges are there in addition to the COP system, not a system to collect the viewers opinions. And if you say nothing impressive of Asada's skating except 3A, while you are able to appreciate Julia, it means something wrong with your expertise of figure.

That's why judges are there in addition to the COP system, not a system to collect the viewers
opinions. And if you say nothing impressive of Asada's skating except 3A, while you are able to appreciate Julia, it means something wrong with your expertise of figure.

I think the point people are trying to make is that casual viewers won't find Julia winning to be outrageous, and her win would probably boost the sport's popularity. Does that mean the scoring is fair or correct? Probably not, but it won't be another SLC scandal because most people don't know and don't care how COP works.

I think the point people are trying to make is that casual viewers won't find Julia winning to be outrageous, and her win would probably boost the sport's popularity. Does that mean the scoring is fair or correct? Probably not, but it won't be another SLC scandal because most people don't know and don't care how COP works.

How people respond to a 15 yr old is predictable. they will embrace her and cherish her, rightfully so, but unless her skating shows real qualities except her spins, it cannot be sustainable even if she win multiple times in the ISU events while judges are willing to prop her up.

It wasn't me. The question about Mao's scores was posted on a forum mainly about eSports (professional video gaming); there's only one thread for the whole Sochi Olympics. I was using that as an example of how a casual viewer saw things. The same guy also asked what the bonus timer was. Definitely a casual, unless he was trolling.